Financial Aid Next Steps

Once you receive your award notice letter, make sure to review all of the areas listed below in order to avoid delays with your financial aid. Click on each step for detailed instructions.

1. Accept, Decline, or Change Your Aid

Accept, Decline, or Change Your Aid - Desktop Computer Instructions

  1. Log in to Campus Connection
    • If you do not know your User ID or Password, call the NDUS Help Desk at 1-866-457-6387, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  2. From the Student Homepage, click the Financial Aid tile
  3. Click Accept/Decline on the left side bar
    • NOTE – You are not able to accept, decline, or reduce private loans. Most scholarships and waivers are accepted automatically. If you need to make a revision to a scholarships or waiver, contact One Stop.
  4. Click the Edit button directly above the Award Description/Category column
  5. Indicate whether you want your financial aid to pay for all charges (Yes/No)
  6. Make your award decision (Accept or Decline)
    • You may reduce the amount by clicking the box in the Reduce column and entering the amount you want to accept
    • You may click Reset to start over
  7. Click Submit
    • When prompted, click Yes to save
    • If you need to make changes after this point, you must request them through One Stop.
  8. Review messages for important details and click OK to confirm.

Accept, Decline, or Change Your Aid - Mobile Device Instructions

  1. Log in to Campus Connection
    • If you do not know your User ID or Password, call the NDUS Help Desk at 1-866-457-6387, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  2. From the Student Homepage, click the Financial Aid tile
  3. Select the Aid Year for which you are accepting aid.
  4. Click Outstanding Offers
    • NOTE – You are NOT able to accept, decline or reduce private loans, scholarships, and waivers on Campus Connection. You must request these changes through One Stop.
  5. Click on the award you want to Accept, Decline, or Reduce\
  6. Indicate whether you want your financial aid to pay for all charges (Yes/No)
  7. Make your award decision (Accept or Decline)
    • You may reduce the amount by clicking the Reduce box and entering the amount you want to accept
    • You may click Reset to start over
  8. Review messages for important details below the Accepted Amount
  9. Click Submit
    • When prompted, click Yes to save
    • If you need to make changes after this point, you must request them through One Stop.

Accept, Decline, or Change Aid Videos

View a videos of the process by clicking the links below.

Change Initial Award Decision - Desktop Computer

  1. Log in to Campus Connection
    • If you do not know your User ID or Password, call the NDUS Help Desk at 1-866-457-6387, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  2. From the Student Homepage, click the Financial Aid tile.
  3. Click Accept/Decline on the left sidebar
    • NOTE - You are NOT able to accept private loans, scholarships, and waivers on Campus Connection
  4. Click the Pencil icon directly above the Award Description/Category column
  5. Make your award decision (Accept, Decline, or Reset)
    • You may reduce the amount by clicking the box in the Reduce column and entering the amount you want to accept.
  6. Click Submit
    • When prompted, click Yes to save.
  7. Review messages for important details and click OK to confirm.

Change Initial Award Decision - Mobile Device

  1. Log in to Campus Connection
    • If you do not know your User ID or Password, call the NDUS Help Desk at 1-866-457-6387, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  2. From the Student Homepage, click the Financial Aid tile.
  3. Click Manage Accepted Awards
  4. Click on the award you want to adjust
  5. Make your award decision (Accept or Decline)
    • You may reduce the amount by clicking the box in the Reduce column and entering the amount you want to accept.
  6. Review messages for important details below the Accepted Amount.
  7. Click Submit
    • When prompted, click Yes to save.

2. Report Scholarships and Other Aid

To notify Financial Aid and Scholarships of any scholarships or awards that are not reflected on your Financial Aid Summary:

  1. Log in to Campus Connection
    • If you do not know your User ID or Password, call the NDUS Help Desk at 1-866-457-6387, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  2. From the Student Homepage, click the Financial Aid tile.
  3. Select the appropriate Aid Year by clicking Change on the left side bar
    • 2023-2024 — For classes running from 8/21/2023 to 5/10/2024
  4. Click Outside Aid on the left side bar
  5. Click the Plus Sign
  6. Enter the following:
    • Award: Select from the drop down menu or select Other
    • Category: Select Scholarship
    • Award Description: Who will the money be coming from for example: Dollars for Scholars, Smith Family Foundation, etc.
    • Amount
  7. Click Submit in the upper right corner
  8. Click Yes to confirm

NOTE: You will be able to see a list of all reported scholarships by clicking the Financial Aid tile and Outside Aid on the left side bar. The Status will change from Reported to Processed once the scholarship has been added to your Financial Aid Summary.

Reporting Multiple Scholarships

If reporting more than one award, click the Plus Sign and follow the above steps for each scholarship.

3. Submit Scholarship Checks

If your scholarship donor sends a check directly to you, mail the check to:

One Stop
NDSU Dept. 3110
P.O. Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050

Make sure to include the student's name and student ID number with the check. To ensure the scholarship check is applied to your NDSU account before the fall semester payment due date, please mail checks by July 1st.

4. Complete the Master Promissory Note, Loan Entrance Counseling and Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement (if accepting a federal loan)

If you are accepting a Federal Direct Subsidized or Federal Direct Unsubsidized for the first time, you will need to complete the Master Promissory Note, Loan Entrance Counseling, and Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement. More information can be found on the Federal Student Loans page.

5. Complete To Do List Items, Resolve Holds, and Read Communications

Check your Campus Connection Student Homepage periodically to view any Holds or To Do List items. If you have been selected for Verification (a process to ensure information submitted on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is accurate) all items, you must complete will be listed on your To Do List. Items on your To Do List must be completed to prevent your aid from being delayed.

Review To Do List
  1. Log in to Campus Connection
    • If you do not know your User ID or Password, call the NDUS Help Desk at 1-866-457-6387, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  2. From the Student Homepage, click the Tasks and Communications tile.
  3. Click To Do List on the left side bar
    • Review all Tasks to be completed. The Status of the task is listed in the far right column.
  4. Click on the task you wish to review. A pop-up window will display the Task Details.
Review Holds
  1. Log in to Campus Connection
    • If you do not know your User ID or Password, call the NDUS Help Desk at 1-866-457-6387, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  2. From the Student Homepage, click the Tasks and Communications tile
  3. Click Holds on the left side bar
  4. Click on the hold you wish to review. A pop-up window will display the Hold Details.
Read Communications
  1. Log in to Campus Connection
    • If you do not know your User ID or Password, call the NDUS Help Desk at 1-866-457-6387, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  2. From the Student Homepage, click the Tasks and Communications tile
  3. Click Communications on the left side bar
  4. Click View on the communication you wish to review. A new window will display the communication.

6. Apply for a Private Student Loan (if applicable)

If federal financial aid does not cover all of your costs to attend NDSU, you may want to consider borrowing a private student loan. Private student loans are non-federal, interest-bearing loans through private lenders. Approval is not guaranteed and the student usually requires a co-signer with good credit. There are a variety of private student loans available and it's up to the student and co-signer to choose the one that is right for them.

For more information on private loans and to determine the maximum amount a student can apply for, visit private loans.

7. Consider Completing the FERPA Release Form

The Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student records. Without a completed FERPA form, parents no longer have access to their student’s financial or academic records. FERPA goes into effect once the student registers for classes. Student’s financial and academic records cannot be discussed with third parties (including parents) unless the student has provided consent by submitting a FERPA release form online.

Other Important Information

  1. Check your Campus Connection Student Homepage periodically to review any items in your Tasks and Communications tile.
  2. Monitor the Financial Account and Financial Aid tiles on your Student Homepage for any charges due or changes to your financial aid.
    • Reminder: Customer Account Services does NOT send out paper bills. You are required to monitor your account balance through Campus Connection.
  3. If you have questions regarding your financial aid, please contact One Stop by completing the One Stop Inquiry Form or call toll free at 1-866-924-8969 or locally at 701-231-6200.